An ovarian cancer diagnosis-seeking process: unraveling the diagnostic delay problem.

Purpose/objectives: To propose a conceptualization that identifies when diagnostic delays occur and suggests a delay-reduction strategy for the diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

Data Sources: Findings and extrapolations from published national and international research studies, research reviews, books, Internet sources, and a family-functioning research project.

Data Synthesis: Three phases of diagnosis seeking were identified. Self-care was characterized by self-diagnosis, self-interpretation of symptoms, and self-management. Primary provider care was characterized by misdiagnosis and ineffective symptom management. Specialist care was characterized by specialized examinations, tests, and definitive diagnoses. Diagnostic delays were associated with extended periods of self-care and the misinterpretation of symptoms in primary care.

Conclusions: Periods of opportunity for early diagnosis occurred in the early symptom stages, when self- and primary care were dominant.

Implications For Nursing: Women must be taught to self-monitor for early ovarian cancer symptoms. Primary care providers should be urged to attend frequent state-of-the-science updates that regard early symptoms as manifestations of ovarian cancer.